Sunday 6th October

An early start to the day as our flight time had been altered to 9am, but it all went smoothly and we were checked-in in good time and a nice breakfast as we started the final piece of the trip - three nights in San Francisco at The Argonaut Hotel down on Fisherman's Wharf.

We checked in and went for a wander and looked in shops, viewed the mass of sea-lions that hang around the place and then back for a rest.

Later in the day we headed down to the main shopping area at Union Square before wandering China Town where we ate and then headed back to the hotel.

A good first day in San Francisco - it's good to be back.

Monday 7th October

We started the day with a trip downtown before heading to Haight Ashbury for a wander - I like the area and there are some interesting shops. Quite weirdly, there are an incredibly large number of people trying to be hippies - lots of them - sitting around with ripped clothes, dogs with string for leads, long hair - but then you look closer and see that they aren't really dirty or smelly and they have phones - they are just playing at being 'on the streets' - it is a strange phenomena.

From there we headed to Cow Hollow for a wander around the shops, but it as all a bit dead and boring. We then wandered back to the hotel.

Later in the afternoon we headed downtown again and did some shopping before heading back to Fisherman's Wharf for some sea food for dinner.

We are just spending our time taking it easy and drifting - it works well.

Tuesday 8th October

Our last full day of the trip. I was up early so headed for a walk up a very steep road that then delivered some fine views over the Bay Area - very nice - and a little stroll down the winding Lombard Street and back to the hotel.

We then headed on a bus trip that took us over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the lovely town of Sausalito where we strolled and had a bite to eat. We sat on the bench where (supposedly) Otis Redding wrote 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay'. Whatever.

Then back over the bridge and we went for a stroll in Little Italy before heading back for another bus trip - this was the afternoon/evening trip through some lovely areas of San Francisco - including some areas we hadn't been before, so that was good and interesting.

We ended the day with a trip to a Deli that I read about for a rather tasty dinner and then that was the day.

Wednesday 9th October

My early morning stroll took me to the Palace of the Arts - a beautiful spot that I got to enjoy with nobody else around. After that, we went for a local breakfast and then headed up to Alamo Square to check out the old Victorian style homes - a great spot and a good photo location.

And that was that. We then had the the worst part - traveling. San Francisco to Los Angeles. Los Angeles to Sydney. Sydney to Melbourne. A long day but it had all been worth it.